WOMAN'S WORLD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16970, 2 October 1918, Page 3

WOMAN'S WORLD.

THE LANGUAGE OF DRESS. NEED for SIMPLICITY. An interesting lecture on the subject of dress was given |,y Nurse Cliappeil on Monday evening. The subject of dress is nf paramount importance to women, and rightly it should bo so, said the speaker. Olio is judged by appearances to a very great extent, and clothes form » ven- «in- e index to the character, be>:;g a 1 outward expression of the in inn'. Neatness and care manifested in dress arc indicative 'of a wellordered mind, while a slovenly and untidy appearance shows lack of interest anil i|vant of piide. On the other band the wearing of clothes that are remarkable ami octre detracts from a woman's personality. As a good picture is framed sirup';,- in .t plain substantial frame, with tho intention of showing tip the points of the picture, so our clothes should bo cbosm with the idea of adding to, instead of detracting fn.m. ( our personality. The following of evtrem - fashions is a mistake of which many ;;ro ch'oable. We should be garbed suitably On ali occasions, and fashions carried to an extHhijc very rarely enhanco the ch. I 'm. of the wmsr. 11l following too closely the dictates o{ la mode we are apt to or pi - look the fact itfiat what to one ie suitable to Mother is invexecrably bad taste. So often one sees, s«(d the speaker, women wearing clothes WigitwHU'of tho designer has town can-fed too far, with the result that the effect is ludicrous, and calls forth not only the attention of the panser-by, but remarks that are anything, but complimentary. In choosing her clothes, said Nurse Chappell, a woman must use judgment, both with regard to the effect to ha created ami with regard to-the means at her disposal. The luxury of possessing fine clothes is one that is tempting to most women, but one that must be most strongly guarded against, as once the habit of dressing beyond one's means has been astablished a weakness has arisen that can only be combated by great strength of will. RED CROSS COMFORTS. Miss M. G. Gilmour, matron of the hospital at Bagdad, writing to Mrs. Kdmunds, lion, secretary of the Victoria League Red Cross branch, in the course of her letter says:—"Three cases arrived to-day, and they contained exactly the sort ci personal comfort which the me 1 thoroughly appreciate- As I took out kx after box of pipes (which are very scarce out here) and the shaving soap and toilet soaps, I was much impressed with the . care and thought bestowed on comforts for my patients. The second ease contained biscuits, and the third sweets and toffee— all of which it was most kind of you to send, and shows the immense amount of thought expended on the making up of the packaged. Thank-you very much indeed on behalf of the men fc. the gifts which will bring them such pleasure." It was through Nurse Alice Martin that the Victoria League was first brought into touch with the Jjospit-als in Bagdad. In response to a request, a list of comforts required was forwarded to the lea--1 gue, with the result,that the consignment referred to was despatched. Tobacco and cigarettes were also asked for, and over £50 worth was shipped some time later, thr delay Awing caused by the fact that tobacco in tins was not at that time procurable. It is most gratifying to the Red Cross committee to know that their'gifts hare arrived safely and are so mtieli appreciated. Needless to say tho Victoria Leagafi Red Cross Committee intend despatching at the first opportunity 3 further supply of similar goods. Mils week there goes to Wellington, consigned through the Minister for Internal Affairs, to the High Commissioner, London, a number of cases . containing worm clothing and socks, milk, honey, and 8 .vests for the prisoners of war, This is • the second consignment that 'the }eagao has sent for this purpose, the goods being those mentioned as most suitable by Sir Thomas Mackenzie, i• ' • HOME MAKING. A home-maker must be a housekeeper, or at least understand what good housekeeping is, end have the faculty of getting others to do the work. But to be a ■ tru6 home-maker a woman must be freed from material things sufficiently to have some time for the more permanent interests of home and society. The permanent interests of homo are the making of better men and women by surrounding the children in the home with those things which shall tend to their test development physically, mentelly and morally. The permanent interests of society are the carrying of inspiration to other homes, furnishing information needed for tha betterment of mankind. So long as there i:3 suffering to be relieved, ignorance to be instructed, hunger to be satided, fallen to be uplifted, the interest of society will be sufficient to take up our spars time. The study of domesiic economy leads to the study of sociology. * "" " " MORIBUND. " What a lot of dead people walk about the world!" the worldly woman said to me the other day. I waited for her to explain herself, as she usually does eventually. "I mean people who don't live; people who are so occupied in doing what they conceive to be their duty that they forget that there are lots of other things to do besides; people who receive no impressions and give none, who scarcely appear even to notice tho passing of the seasons, the wonder, or delight, or horror of everything that happens; who originate nothing, criticise nothing, who—worst of all—accumulate no memories, whether pleasant or sad, or even bad. "These people never want to understand anything about their own species. They look upon most human proclivities as being not very nice. Often they build for themselves the reputation of being extremely kind, because they never say tasty things about people, or tell you that your hat doesn't suit you even when you look a freak in it. It is just because they havo no discrimination, and are devoid of the critical faculty, that they attain to that foolish kind of amiability. Hut they are shut out from life, because nobody "ever tells them anything. I'eople who have souls and troubles anti joys to tell, turn to the robust-living people who .have some understanding of human nature." "Tho kir.d of people I'm talking of have all sorts of axioms, and they d'vide society into types, and talk as if we were all cut out on paper patterns. They say constantly, 'No nice woman—or manwould do'* such and such a thing; and yet we must all know some perfectly nice wen and women who do the most weird and extraordinary things. Personally, I don't believe in types, only in individuals. "What a dull business life would be," the worldly woman ended inconsequently, ' if we never did anything that surprised ourselves!"— Exchange. INDEPENDENT CHILDREN. A spirit of independence in out yhildren ijj much to be desired, yet .often enough is ii? the fault of the mother that it is lacking. Some children are timid and self'' depreciating, and such children must be helped and shown that they can do things i:( they will only try; others again art a little too self-confident, and certain they ' can do everything. This spirit should not be damped—though at the same time x these children should not bo flattered, but. i what they achieve should be taken unite as a matter of course, or the sturdy, indei pendent character will be in danger of be- . coming more than a' little mixed with 1 conceit, ' _ , . ,i-!